After the highs of four league wins in a row, Dundee United were handed a reality check by their league title rivals Ayr United.
Goals from Daniel Harvie and Alan Forrest sealed a brilliant win for the Honest Men. It inflicted a first defeat of the season upon United, who are now top on goal difference.
Ian McCall has Ayr flying again. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
They were brought back down to earth with a thud at Somerset Park.
United must show why they are favourites
Whilst they were never going to win every game, it certainly felt that way. United’s 6-2 win over Dundee sent a message to the rest of the league that United were the team to beat.
United are big favourites for the Championship crown and they will remain so following this defeat. Robbie Neilson knows they were off the boil though against Ayr.
Neilson knows Dundee United weren’t good enough against Ayr. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
A question of what if will linger in his mind though. United struck the post shortly before Ayr’s second. If that goes in, we’re probably telling a different story.
Their next five games are kind to them. They will face two part-time teams in Alloa and Arbroath, two current bottom six members in Morton and Queen of the South, before facing winless Dunfermline.
It is now up to the Arab stars to show this Ayr setback was nothing but an off day. Saturday showed that the Tannadice side simply can’t turn up at tough venues like Somerset Park and expect to win.
Need to earn their keep in the Championship. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
With five winnable games on the horizon, it’s time for United to show once more why they are the favourites. That starts against Arbroath.